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Force of Law
When a Lamborghini Diablo car pulls into the quick oil change shop on Cleveland’s west side, Tom Russell work immediately assumes this is his old lover, Wells, a beautiful, wealthy, east side snob, come back to torment him. But it’s worse.The driver is Wells’ arrogant, obscenely rich cousin Law Castille, who invites Tom on a little subtle revenge, accompanying Law as his guest to Wells’ wedding. But dance with the devil, and there's hell to pay. Tom thinks Law is toying with him, but Law’s visit to the poor side of a rustbelt town was never about revenge. It was never about cousin Wells at all. Law has come for Tom.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
32 people are currently reading
1171 people want to read
About the author
Jez Morrow
10 books203 followersI am a madam's granddaughter.
I write homoerotic fiction.
Scarlet Blade is a swashbuckling romance between a dashing Spanish nobleman and a fallen priest in colonial California.
In Chasing Shadows the trail of a killer leads two Chicago police detectives to each other.
Beloved Captor is a sci fi love story between a prisoner of war and his keeper.
Sovereign's Gladiator is a tale of lust, loyalty, betrayal, and love between a sovereign and his bodyguard.
Touch of a Wolf starts in a Philadelphia alley with anonymous sex between a young graduate student and an ageless wolf shifter from Valley Forge.
Force of Law is a Pretty Woman tale, but with a tomcat garage mechanic in the Julia Roberts role.
Shadow of a Wolf takes place in contemporary Washington DC. The men are wolf shifters.
Lover and Commander is science fiction.
The men are space fighter pilots.
In Name of a Wolf I'm back to wolves, but Craiglaren is a sort of highland neverwhere neverwhen.
The stories always involve two men. No threesomes. Always erotica. A strong plot. Always an HEA.
Other than that, I never know where the next road leads.
I write homoerotic fiction.
Scarlet Blade is a swashbuckling romance between a dashing Spanish nobleman and a fallen priest in colonial California.
In Chasing Shadows the trail of a killer leads two Chicago police detectives to each other.
Beloved Captor is a sci fi love story between a prisoner of war and his keeper.
Sovereign's Gladiator is a tale of lust, loyalty, betrayal, and love between a sovereign and his bodyguard.
Touch of a Wolf starts in a Philadelphia alley with anonymous sex between a young graduate student and an ageless wolf shifter from Valley Forge.
Force of Law is a Pretty Woman tale, but with a tomcat garage mechanic in the Julia Roberts role.
Shadow of a Wolf takes place in contemporary Washington DC. The men are wolf shifters.
Lover and Commander is science fiction.
The men are space fighter pilots.
In Name of a Wolf I'm back to wolves, but Craiglaren is a sort of highland neverwhere neverwhen.
The stories always involve two men. No threesomes. Always erotica. A strong plot. Always an HEA.
Other than that, I never know where the next road leads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 326 reviews
November 1, 2014
how i learned i was a shallow piece of shit with a subby streak.
it went like this:
to die for. as in, of AIDS? ok.
ew. srrssly, go fuck yourself.
you bet your fuckin' ass, morrow. i'm gonna get you for this shit.
wow. this is really happening. to my face. right now.
oh, really, srrssly tho, fuck you.
please die. please die in agony. of syphilis. in an eye. also a nostril.
and i am a moron with a hateboner who can't stop lavishly detesting this book.
dafuq is wrong with being a submissive, asshole?
"fiendish." also "assholish."
o holy god, smite these people in the neck plz, thx
so sayeth douche le douche, esq. III
pussy envy. the only explanation.
oh, yes, please compare your 'nads to bivalves again, that was delicious.
y'know. like when you're a little embarrassed? as you do.
b'cuz genuine affection = crack habit, obvs
...okay, but, like—wtf?
how many times are you going to compare him to a sasquatch, morrow? how? many? times?
i mean, what abuser wouldn't make a guy's dick wet, amirite?
a wall and a stab, you say? *whispers to waiter* i'll have what he's having.
so, wait—first he's a bull, and now he's pennywhistle with a penchant for breaking and entering? i'm so confused!
...so ...this is... a rape, then.
oh. not a rape. i get it. that's still fucked, but, um, that cellphone inching closer and closer is kinda hot.
OMG PLEASE STOP TALKING
what gave him away, his dick up your ass, or your dick in his throat?
this can't be happening to me.
please. i'm begging you. please die. all of you. right now.
heh. okay. that was pretty funny. BUT I STILL HATE YOU, BOOK.
you're thilly.
bcuz 'murrika.
...said the just-recently-turnt-out-for-the-first-time-gutbucket-bottom-butch-mechanic-man.
the thing is, your average scrotum is sensitive as fuck. to chemicals, say. like in, oh, i dunno—suntan lotion.
you know what else is sensitive to chemicals? your butthole. inside and out. DO NOT TRY THIS SHIT AT HOME, DIRTBAGS.
lolololol i dare you to try this to your man. when he punches you in the face because it burns, i will pretend like i don't know wtf you're talking about. because it BURNS. and you are STUPID. and so is YOUR MAN FOR LETTING YOU TRY IT.
...for once.
y'know. like a whore.
INCORRECT
lol that sentence was the best sentence.
IT'S THE APOCALYPSE! FLAMES TO THE SKY! AND PLEASURE STABBING HIS EYELASHES!!!
omg dramaaaaaaaaaa
god hates fags.
...and so do random motorists.
CORRECT.
d'aaawwww—omg, wait wtf—i'm supposed to be hating this fucking book. ALSO RANDOM POV SHIFT.
okay, that was legit hot, tho.
*anime eyes*
OMGMETOOOOOOO
best book evar.
SAY YES MOTHERFUCKER SAY YES
YAAAAASSSJESUS RAPTURE ME LAWD
*the end*
it went like this:
His disinterest in women made him a must-have. And he could be had, because the women were safer than the guys. He hadn’t met a guy who was to die for.
to die for. as in, of AIDS? ok.
Back when Tom and Wells had been lovers, Law had invaded Tom’s apartment and ordered both of them to get blood tests. Tom remembered Wells bridling at the command. “You can’t order me—!“
“The hell I can’t,” Law cut him off. “Both of you. Or I hire a hit man. Results on my fax or e-mail before I ship out.” He had pointed at them, his hand in the classic bang-you’re-dead pose.
Tom remembered telling Wells after the door shut behind Law, “He’s bluffing.”
But Wells had gone awfully quiet.
And Wells and Tom both got blood tests.
ew. srrssly, go fuck yourself.
Law glanced aside at him. “You know how vengeful those homosexual types can be.”
you bet your fuckin' ass, morrow. i'm gonna get you for this shit.
He wasn’t accustomed to leaving work at noon and being the one in the bitch seat of a sexy vehicle.
wow. this is really happening. to my face. right now.
Law strode over to Tom’s mattress, turned round, and let himself drop back onto it. He lay with his hands clasped behind his head. “Am I going to catch something social or viral on this?”
oh, really, srrssly tho, fuck you.
Wells demanded, “Why are you here?”
“Cynthia sent me to find out where you were slumming. She said you were with some blue-collar homosexual.” Law sat up, planted his feet flat on the floor and rested his elbows on his knees. He looked up at Tom sideways. “Got AIDS?”
“No,” Wells said.
“Been tested?” Law asked.
please die. please die in agony. of syphilis. in an eye. also a nostril.
“You both thought you were the man,” Law said. “You’re the bitch.”
and i am a moron with a hateboner who can't stop lavishly detesting this book.
Damned Wells had to go and blab the specifics of their love-making to this man. Tom wondered if this straight prison guard type sadist meant to show the faggot how a real man does it.
Law sensed his fear. Tom could see the gleam in Law’s dark eyes behind the edge of his dark lenses. Tom could tell Law was laughing.
Tom said, “Just so we are clear on this, I am not submissive.”
dafuq is wrong with being a submissive, asshole?
"Family may call me Laurie,” Law said serenely. “To you, I am Law.”
“You just hold that thought, Laurie.”
“You’ll notice it’s only the girls who call me that,” Law said. “I guess you may as well call me Laurie.” He gave Tom a fiendish wink.
"fiendish." also "assholish."
Ira told Tom, “Just remember, when they start the dancing, keep at least one elbow lower than your ears.” And Ira winked as if he had just given Tom an insider tip.
Tom smiled, bewildered. “Why?”
Irene explained, “When a man dances with both elbows higher than his shoulders, it supposedly means he’s gay.” She gave a shrug. “Ira always tries to get the photographer to dance with his arms over his head.”
o holy god, smite these people in the neck plz, thx
As Law pulled back his chair, he spoke offhandedly, “Cat fight. Nine o’clock.”
Tom looked to his left, where Law was purposefully not looking.
Cynthia had Alana cornered. Cynthia’s blond head was lowered like a hissing goose, her earrings shaking.
so sayeth douche le douche, esq. III
Tom took refuge at the bar, where he found a cluster of men to shoot the shit with.
The pack of them parted to let a busty bridesmaid through. She was a brazen young woman who thrived surrounded by studs. She zeroed in on Tom. “Hey. You’re Lawrence’s wingman. Is that Lawrence’s Lamborghini out front?” she asked, her heavily crusted eyelashes dropped come-hither low.
All the young men answered for Tom. They told her yes, yes the wicked car was Law’s ride.
The woman toyed suggestively with the neck of one of the bottles on the bar. “You know I’d fuck him for a ride in a Lamborghini.”
Tom said, “I got a Harley. Would that get me a blow job?”
Her eyes went as big as bottle bottoms, and all the guys laughed loud. The bridesmaid stalked away fuming.
pussy envy. the only explanation.
Tom’s ears burned hot. Squirming embarrassment gripped him all the way down to his oysters, while down below, the two made an odd, compelling tableau, the bull and his mother under the spreading tree. The majestic figure of great power who was Law became a tame beast facing the woman who bore him.
oh, yes, please compare your 'nads to bivalves again, that was delicious.
But she knew Tom had been Wells’ lover. She knew. And Alana’s knowing left Tom feeling as if he’d swallowed a live muskrat.
y'know. like when you're a little embarrassed? as you do.
To Tom’s surprise, Alana sought Tom out and hugged him, too. She spoke softly into his ear, “I am so happy to meet you.” She sounded as if she meant it, and she kissed him on the cheek before sinking back down from tip-toe, affection shining in her dark eyes. Tom wondered if she wasn’t high, because she didn’t smell drunk.
b'cuz genuine affection = crack habit, obvs
Law knew what the going rate for a ride in a Lamborghini was. It was no comfort that Wells had told Tom—twice—that Law was straight. And Tom never doubted it. But he knew for damn sure that sex wasn’t always about desire. Sex could be a weapon. It was about dominance. And did Tom happen to know anyone who needed to be the master of everything?
...okay, but, like—wtf?
The passenger door lifted. The beast slid into the passenger seat, a sexually threatening presence.
how many times are you going to compare him to a sasquatch, morrow? how? many? times?
Tom never saw Law as anything but a bully. A big bully. But there was something else now. Something more. Intensely threatening. Tom responded with fear tainted with desire.
i mean, what abuser wouldn't make a guy's dick wet, amirite?
Fear rose up in a blank white wall and hot stab of desire. His blood effervesced. Terror gripped his throat and shook hard. Tom met Law’s hard gaze and the world stopped.
a wall and a stab, you say? *whispers to waiter* i'll have what he's having.
Some preternatural being that feeds on fear was feasting here. Tom couldn’t figure out how it had come to this. He hadn’t heard Law follow him up the stairs. Tom knew he’d shut the downstairs door after him. Yet here Law was. “How did you get in?” Tom’s voice sounded weak to his own ears.
“There’s more than one thing you can do with a credit card.”
so, wait—first he's a bull, and now he's pennywhistle with a penchant for breaking and entering? i'm so confused!
He lost his nerve. Bolted for the door. Tried to.
Law caught him by his arm, just above the elbow, and pulled him back. “Wells was all wrong for you.”
“I found that out—wait!” Tom’s spinning thoughts tripped over the impossibility of what Law just said. “You said Wells was all wrong for me. As if I was the one that mattered.”
Law drew him in forcefully, Law’s face over his, their lips barely apart. Tom tasted Law’s breath.
“As if.”
...so ...this is... a rape, then.
"No.”
Law’s hand withdrew. He took a small step back.
Immediately, Law turned Tom around and pushed him at the couch hard, bending him forward over the back of it. Tom caught himself, his palms sinking into the cushions. Tom tried to stand up, but Law shoved him back down. Law kicked Tom’s legs apart and stood between them. Tom struggled as Law reached around Tom’s body, groping for Tom’s zipper. Tom cried out.
Something dropped down onto the couch next to Tom’s hand and bounced once on the cushion.
Cell phone. An unspoken dare to call 911 if he really meant no.
And there it was. His bluff had been called—and Tom hadn’t even known he was bluffing.
Tom thought he didn’t want this. The image of the phone moved up and down before his eyes as Law pushed him rhythmically against the couch with a dry humping at Tom’s clothed ass. The motion rocked the couch, and the phone edged over closer with each bounce of Tom’s hands on the cushions until it touched the outside of his little finger. The phone now brushed against Tom’s hand with Law’s every thrust.
oh. not a rape. i get it. that's still fucked, but, um, that cellphone inching closer and closer is kinda hot.
Law nuzzled his ear. “Still think you’re the man?”
OMG PLEASE STOP TALKING
Tom touched Law’s hair, a strange realization penetrating his muddled senses and emotions.
He’s gay.
what gave him away, his dick up your ass, or your dick in his throat?
"My first time bareback,” Law offered.
“Really. Was I to die for?”
“You might be. But you were safe.”
“I am. But how did you know?”
“When you were having your trousers measured, I found four condoms in the hip pocket of your jeans. That’s a careful—not to mention energetic—young man. I only ever carry one. I keep the box in the car.”
this can't be happening to me.
Tom woke to the pounding baseline from speakers shaking the whole block. It was still night.
Law got up. Tom ghosted him to the front of the building to look out a tall window.
A long, low-riding car bouncing on its double whoa jimmies had stopped in front of the furniture store. Some bloods were climbing out to circle the Diablo under the streetlight.
please. i'm begging you. please die. all of you. right now.
Law got up, showered, shaved, dressed. He dropped a few bills on the heap of clothes on the floor next to the couch.
“Cab fare?” Tom said, sitting up in the bed. “I may have to murder you.”
“For the cleaner. These look like you’ve been mugged by a salad.” There were oil spots all over Tom’s new clothes.
heh. okay. that was pretty funny. BUT I STILL HATE YOU, BOOK.
How could he go back to women now?
He didn’t love them, and they didn’t love him. He never took the women up to his apartment. They were less likely to expect him to eat them if he didn’t have a place to go.
you're thilly.
"Why did you go to Afghanistan?”
Law answered straight back. “Kill Osama Bin Laden.”
bcuz 'murrika.
"I’m not going to change just because you’re putting out for me now. I’m not going to turn into your lapdog.”
“Good,” Tom said. “‘Cause that would be icky.”
...said the just-recently-turnt-out-for-the-first-time-gutbucket-bottom-butch-mechanic-man.
Law returned, kicked his shoes off, and finished undressing Tom, then slathered suntan oil on him. All over him.
the thing is, your average scrotum is sensitive as fuck. to chemicals, say. like in, oh, i dunno—suntan lotion.
Law’s cock pushed between Tom’s cheeks, thoroughly oiled and in no danger of burning.
And oh God in heaven, he was in.
you know what else is sensitive to chemicals? your butthole. inside and out. DO NOT TRY THIS SHIT AT HOME, DIRTBAGS.
Law went into the house. He came back out, lay back on the blanket, smug, his cock pointing up, hard. “Show me what you can do.”
Tom crouched over him. He smelled liquor on Law’s sex. Droplets of brandy dappled the dark, coarse hair of Law’s groin.
lolololol i dare you to try this to your man. when he punches you in the face because it burns, i will pretend like i don't know wtf you're talking about. because it BURNS. and you are STUPID. and so is YOUR MAN FOR LETTING YOU TRY IT.
Tom’s life was in upheaval. Law rewrote everything Tom thought he was. It hit him a lot harder and deeper than he could have imagined. He sensed a change in Law, too. His caresses were slower, gentler, sweeter. Tom caught in deep breaths on the verge of sobbing. He felt Law’s lips on the side of his neck, Law’s hair brushing his skin, Law’s palm gently around his throat. Law couldn’t possibly miss the quivering in Tom’s body. But there was nothing abusive coming.
...for once.
With his last shred of pride—Tom was surprised he had any by now—he pulled off his socks for himself. He was not getting fucked again wearing only socks.
y'know. like a whore.
Confused and fearful as he was, this one thing Tom knew for certain. No man ever took another man’s balls in his mouth to mock him.
INCORRECT
With a grunt of surprised passion from Law, Tom guided Law’s sex to his hunger.
lol that sentence was the best sentence.
Law growled. A sudden surge of liquid fire released inside Tom. He cried out in a sudden flare of passion. He convulsed again, harder. Flames leapt toward the sky, spreading through his core. Pleasure lanced out to his fingertips, his eyelashes.
IT'S THE APOCALYPSE! FLAMES TO THE SKY! AND PLEASURE STABBING HIS EYELASHES!!!
"Fuck this.” Law turned on the bike’s headlight and dismounted. He stepped into the light.
Tom saw Law’s giant silhouette, his long shadow thrown out before him as stalked up to the car, which had stopped, waiting for him. Law approached with his arms out to his sides, his hands open, holding nothing.
Tom saw the driver’s side window rolling down.
He heard a barrage of hateful obscenities in a raw male voice daring Law to come closer. Law drew alongside the window.
Tom saw the gun.
omg dramaaaaaaaaaa
This was a worldwide pants down. Jesus Christ, his mother surfed the internet. The guys at work surfed. Not that the guys would ever do a search on Tom Russell, but if they ever saw that video, the police would be dragging Tom’s carcass out of Lake Erie—badly beaten with tire irons and wrenches.
god hates fags.
Maybe it was the sight of two men in the saddle that set this guy off, but he was roaring full throttle up the dark road with a double hatred--riders and queers. This guy was on a mission.
...and so do random motorists.
Tom’s insides jumped and crashed, caught between the depth of expression, the honesty of it and—and what?
Getting outed? It wasn’t like there was a Midwesterner alive who could shock a room full of New Yorkers.
CORRECT.
Her dark eyes studied his face, her brow knit. “Why?”
Law took her shoulders. “Mother, he’s the one.”
d'aaawwww—omg, wait wtf—i'm supposed to be hating this fucking book. ALSO RANDOM POV SHIFT.
When Law lifted him off the tabletop onto his unsteady feet, Tom left a clear ass print and a white smear of come that had escaped Law’s hunger.
The tip of Law’s forefinger landed in the center of the white wetness, and he drew his bold signature in it.
okay, that was legit hot, tho.
"If no one else comes here, why is the shower built for two?”
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
*anime eyes*
"You had your helmet and your leather jacket beside you in the grass, so I knew the motorcycle in the parking lot was yours. You had your eyes shut, the sun on your face. You looked free as the wind.”
“We call that unemployed,” Tom translated, struggling to sound flippant, overwhelmed by the intensity of emotion in his words.
OMGMETOOOOOOO
"I’m giving up this place. I need to establish a new state of residence. Do you like Connecticut or New Hampshire? I’m never home.”
Tom blinked, stunned not to be having sex right now. He stammered, “Those are the choices?”
It caught up with him as soon as he said it. Those were states that recognized gay marriage.
I’m only going to carry you once, Law had said.
He meant over a threshold.
best book evar.
“What?” Law asked Tom’s silent look.
Tom said, “Say exactly what you mean.”
Law looked dumbstruck, almost angry. He breathed, “Son of a bitch.” And to Tom’s surprise, Law got down on one knee and took his hand. “Tom, you beloved bastard, I love you. I need you in my life forever. I cannot imagine existence without you. Will you—God please say yes—grant me the honor and the privilege and save my life and marry me?”
SAY YES MOTHERFUCKER SAY YES
"My sweet love,” Law moaned into the back of Tom’s neck, his sex deep inside Tom. Tom was Law’s, and Law was Tom’s. To have and to hold, and to touch and kiss and ride and fuck.
YAAAAASSSJESUS RAPTURE ME LAWD
*the end*
Read
May 13, 2015Oh the difficult.
I read this because two friends were arguing about it.
And ... gosh ... my feelings, they are quite mixed.
On the one hand, I kind of enjoyed it. It’s almost irritatingly engaging.
On the other hand, it hurt my face. And I’m quite resentful of the ways it hurt my face because it kept lulling my face into relaxed amusement, and then punching it hard.
So, basically, I feel I slightly abused, like Charlie Brown and the football:
Force of Law: Come here baby, it’ll be fine I promise...
Me: Oh, okay, I suppose this is quite entertaining
Force of Law: THWACK
Me: Ow
Force of Law: Sorry baby, I won’t do it again, look he’s guiding his sex into his hunger
Me: Oh ...oh ... all right, I do sort of like this stuff, just don’t hit me again, okay?
Force of Law: THWACK
Me: Dammit.
I think it’s fairly clear that this is ... a ... I hesitate to use the word satire, I guess an m/m twist on an Harlequin Presents type romance. And, for the record, I’ve only read about twenty or so HQ Presents so I by no means know what I’m talking about. But we’ve got a protective, badass billionaire with a penis-mobile and a never-flagging erection for a hero. And a less experienced, less socially and physically powerful protagonist.
They hate each other. Then they fuck. Then people try to kill them. Then they’re in love. And there are a lot of other HQ Presents type tropes in here too: evil families, good families, potential financial ruin, an evil ex, blackmail, & etc, all of it basically ... hang on a second, this GR, lemme get a gif:
Even the, err, bonking is self-consciously and gleefully, well, Harlequiny.
That sounds more like irritable bowel syndrome than any sex I’ve ever had, but honestly, I love this stuff. I love it in het, and turns out I love it in queer too. I mean, it’s silly, but it’s gloriously silly. And it’s not like the sole purpose of fiction to accurately represent your impression of reality.
However. There’s no denying that fiction does intersect with reality. And this is where things get sticky for me with FoL.
Basically, I think it comes down to an intersectionality issue. Because obviously het romance – and this style of het romance in particular – is heavily (and, even to a degree, necessarily) gendered. Most of the HQ Presents I’ve read have been engaged with juxtapositions of power and vulnerability, masculinity and femininity – sometimes in quite aware ways, sometimes not so much. Ultimately alpha heroes and HQ Presents-style power dynamics are not My Thing. That’s not the sort of man I aspire to be, and it’s not the sort of man I find attractive. But I do appreciate the sheer whacked-outness, sometimes, when I’m in the right mood. And, obviously, different books inspire different responses in different readers. I’ve read reviews that found pleasure in those sort of gendered dynamics in spite of the inherent problems associated with them, I’ve read reviews that actively objected to those sort of gendered dynamics in the first place, and I’ve read reviews that didn’t give a damn. All legit and entirely sustainable positions.
But because FoL is queer, it gets honestly pretty weird, and not in a manner I was able to easily dismiss or laugh off. Tom is a mechanic, rides a Harley, and has a muscular, bad-boy look, but basically – since we’re operating with the gendered framework of HQ Presents (het) romances – he’s ... uh ... he’s the woman. Quite explicitly the woman:
Um. Yes, sweetie. You’re both men. That doesn’t change when one of you has had a cock up your arse.
Just, as post-coital taunts go ... this is fucking weird. It presupposes a bunch of really pretty vile things about gender, sex and power – and none of them are things I want reinforced by books that are ostensibly supposed to be about me. Even if they’re not for me.
And, look, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be overwhelmed, forced, dominated, taken. Whatever your gender. Masculinity is hot. Either subversively or directly.
And I get that the scene in which Law de-virginates Tom and then compares him to a woman is meant to reflect similar type scenes in het romance, of which, let’s face it, there’s loads. But it’s Made of Problems whichever way you cut it. A double whammie of homophobia AND misogyny that just makes me want to cry. While sex can be about power (sex can be about lots of things, and lots of things can be about power), a lot of forced seduction scenes in het romance are built on the idea that it is fundamentally and inherently and automatically disempowering for a woman to have sex with a man. Which, uh, I don’t know. Not my call. But I would like to hope maybe not. Don’t get me wrong, I think it can be, but I think that’s a symptom of gender constructions and centuries of unequal social power. I don’t think having one part of someone else’s body inside your body is by its very nature passive, disempowering, feminising or emasculating.
The entire scene between Tom and Law simply builds on these messed up ideas: that sex – at its core – involves a loss of power, that loss of power is feminising, and that this is demonstrated by who penetrates whom.
Also I don’t think the worst thing you can say about a man is that he’s like a woman. I don’t think power is a natural feature of masculinity, and I don’t think vulnerability is a natural feature of femininity. But these ideas are not only accepted without question by the text, they’re constantly reinforced:
God, yeah. Heaven forefend a man felt a thing. That would be terrible. And, okay, if you’re feeling super generous, maybe you can squint sideways and say maybe the text is exploring or challenge these ideas.
But it ain’t.
Or if it is, it might come across more effectively as A Theme if the book didn’t constantly refer to women as “bitches.”
And I don’t mean as an insult. I mean as a general term for the female of the species.
I think the sex thing would have troubled me less – it is, after all, a trope of m/m in general that liking to be penetrated is inherently submissive and just a little bit humiliating (le sigh) – if the same dynamic had not unfurled like a rectal prolapse across the entire book. It is Tom who takes it up the arse, it is Tom who sits around waiting for Law to call, it is Tom who is rescued by Law from Dangerous Drivers, it is Law who “submits emotionally” (usually the act of emotional rebalancing in a lot of het romances) to Tom when he proposes at the end. Basically Tom is a mechanic for like five minutes at the start of the novel and – while I am very hesitant to enter into the same constructed ideas of gender I have spent this entire review protesting – a woman from the second Law sticks his dick in him while he cries.
And don’t even get me started on Wells – this is Tom’s previous lover, the sylph-like and effete blonde we later learn was only “confused.” Because tonnes of men have taken all their clothes off and repeatedly rubbed themselves against me in a state of confusion spanning many months. FoL opens with this traitor to homosexuality getting fat and getting married. Again, not in itself problematic, but it troubled me that Wells was so thoroughly condemned as a “pretender” when ... I don’t know ... I think if you ejaculate while wrapped naked around your same-sex lover there’s likely to be some degree of sexual fluidity going on there attributable to more than “confusion”. There are, after all, plenty of behavioural waystations on the journey between straight as a die and flaming woofter. But because Wells is insufficiently masculine and insufficiently gay to “properly” penetrate Tom, you’re once again reinforcing extremely dodgy ideas about sex and sexual identity i.e. that sex only “counts” if there’s a penis entering an orifice, and that homosexuality is located somewhere inside the anus.
But, goddamn it, how can I be so pissed off and entertained at the same fucking time? I feel like the protagonist.
Force of Law thrust itself savagely onto AJH's e-reader.
"No, no," he protested weakly. "Please... don't... with your deranged attitude to anal sex and your messed up gender politics."
"You want me really," snarled FoL. "You took me in half an hour. You couldn't get enough of me."
AJH trembled like a peony in a rainstorm, and tried to pretend he was reading KJ Charles...
I read this because two friends were arguing about it.
And ... gosh ... my feelings, they are quite mixed.
On the one hand, I kind of enjoyed it. It’s almost irritatingly engaging.
On the other hand, it hurt my face. And I’m quite resentful of the ways it hurt my face because it kept lulling my face into relaxed amusement, and then punching it hard.
So, basically, I feel I slightly abused, like Charlie Brown and the football:
Force of Law: Come here baby, it’ll be fine I promise...
Me: Oh, okay, I suppose this is quite entertaining
Force of Law: THWACK
Me: Ow
Force of Law: Sorry baby, I won’t do it again, look he’s guiding his sex into his hunger
Me: Oh ...oh ... all right, I do sort of like this stuff, just don’t hit me again, okay?
Force of Law: THWACK
Me: Dammit.
I think it’s fairly clear that this is ... a ... I hesitate to use the word satire, I guess an m/m twist on an Harlequin Presents type romance. And, for the record, I’ve only read about twenty or so HQ Presents so I by no means know what I’m talking about. But we’ve got a protective, badass billionaire with a penis-mobile and a never-flagging erection for a hero. And a less experienced, less socially and physically powerful protagonist.
They hate each other. Then they fuck. Then people try to kill them. Then they’re in love. And there are a lot of other HQ Presents type tropes in here too: evil families, good families, potential financial ruin, an evil ex, blackmail, & etc, all of it basically ... hang on a second, this GR, lemme get a gif:
Even the, err, bonking is self-consciously and gleefully, well, Harlequiny.
That sexual thickness pushed inside him for an extended moment that stretched to eternity. His body ignited with a spear of sexual heat. The unexpected sensation left him thunderstruck, dazed and soaring. It was a revelation, as if a veil had been stripped away and suddenly he could see color. His body melted into fiery sweetness.
That sounds more like irritable bowel syndrome than any sex I’ve ever had, but honestly, I love this stuff. I love it in het, and turns out I love it in queer too. I mean, it’s silly, but it’s gloriously silly. And it’s not like the sole purpose of fiction to accurately represent your impression of reality.
However. There’s no denying that fiction does intersect with reality. And this is where things get sticky for me with FoL.
Basically, I think it comes down to an intersectionality issue. Because obviously het romance – and this style of het romance in particular – is heavily (and, even to a degree, necessarily) gendered. Most of the HQ Presents I’ve read have been engaged with juxtapositions of power and vulnerability, masculinity and femininity – sometimes in quite aware ways, sometimes not so much. Ultimately alpha heroes and HQ Presents-style power dynamics are not My Thing. That’s not the sort of man I aspire to be, and it’s not the sort of man I find attractive. But I do appreciate the sheer whacked-outness, sometimes, when I’m in the right mood. And, obviously, different books inspire different responses in different readers. I’ve read reviews that found pleasure in those sort of gendered dynamics in spite of the inherent problems associated with them, I’ve read reviews that actively objected to those sort of gendered dynamics in the first place, and I’ve read reviews that didn’t give a damn. All legit and entirely sustainable positions.
But because FoL is queer, it gets honestly pretty weird, and not in a manner I was able to easily dismiss or laugh off. Tom is a mechanic, rides a Harley, and has a muscular, bad-boy look, but basically – since we’re operating with the gendered framework of HQ Presents (het) romances – he’s ... uh ... he’s the woman. Quite explicitly the woman:
Law nuzzled his ear. “Still think you’re the man?
Um. Yes, sweetie. You’re both men. That doesn’t change when one of you has had a cock up your arse.
Just, as post-coital taunts go ... this is fucking weird. It presupposes a bunch of really pretty vile things about gender, sex and power – and none of them are things I want reinforced by books that are ostensibly supposed to be about me. Even if they’re not for me.
And, look, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be overwhelmed, forced, dominated, taken. Whatever your gender. Masculinity is hot. Either subversively or directly.
And I get that the scene in which Law de-virginates Tom and then compares him to a woman is meant to reflect similar type scenes in het romance, of which, let’s face it, there’s loads. But it’s Made of Problems whichever way you cut it. A double whammie of homophobia AND misogyny that just makes me want to cry. While sex can be about power (sex can be about lots of things, and lots of things can be about power), a lot of forced seduction scenes in het romance are built on the idea that it is fundamentally and inherently and automatically disempowering for a woman to have sex with a man. Which, uh, I don’t know. Not my call. But I would like to hope maybe not. Don’t get me wrong, I think it can be, but I think that’s a symptom of gender constructions and centuries of unequal social power. I don’t think having one part of someone else’s body inside your body is by its very nature passive, disempowering, feminising or emasculating.
The entire scene between Tom and Law simply builds on these messed up ideas: that sex – at its core – involves a loss of power, that loss of power is feminising, and that this is demonstrated by who penetrates whom.
Also I don’t think the worst thing you can say about a man is that he’s like a woman. I don’t think power is a natural feature of masculinity, and I don’t think vulnerability is a natural feature of femininity. But these ideas are not only accepted without question by the text, they’re constantly reinforced:
I am not going to crumble like a virgin girl. I’m a guy. This is just sex.
God, yeah. Heaven forefend a man felt a thing. That would be terrible. And, okay, if you’re feeling super generous, maybe you can squint sideways and say maybe the text is exploring or challenge these ideas.
But it ain’t.
Or if it is, it might come across more effectively as A Theme if the book didn’t constantly refer to women as “bitches.”
And I don’t mean as an insult. I mean as a general term for the female of the species.
I think the sex thing would have troubled me less – it is, after all, a trope of m/m in general that liking to be penetrated is inherently submissive and just a little bit humiliating (le sigh) – if the same dynamic had not unfurled like a rectal prolapse across the entire book. It is Tom who takes it up the arse, it is Tom who sits around waiting for Law to call, it is Tom who is rescued by Law from Dangerous Drivers, it is Law who “submits emotionally” (usually the act of emotional rebalancing in a lot of het romances) to Tom when he proposes at the end. Basically Tom is a mechanic for like five minutes at the start of the novel and – while I am very hesitant to enter into the same constructed ideas of gender I have spent this entire review protesting – a woman from the second Law sticks his dick in him while he cries.
And don’t even get me started on Wells – this is Tom’s previous lover, the sylph-like and effete blonde we later learn was only “confused.” Because tonnes of men have taken all their clothes off and repeatedly rubbed themselves against me in a state of confusion spanning many months. FoL opens with this traitor to homosexuality getting fat and getting married. Again, not in itself problematic, but it troubled me that Wells was so thoroughly condemned as a “pretender” when ... I don’t know ... I think if you ejaculate while wrapped naked around your same-sex lover there’s likely to be some degree of sexual fluidity going on there attributable to more than “confusion”. There are, after all, plenty of behavioural waystations on the journey between straight as a die and flaming woofter. But because Wells is insufficiently masculine and insufficiently gay to “properly” penetrate Tom, you’re once again reinforcing extremely dodgy ideas about sex and sexual identity i.e. that sex only “counts” if there’s a penis entering an orifice, and that homosexuality is located somewhere inside the anus.
But, goddamn it, how can I be so pissed off and entertained at the same fucking time? I feel like the protagonist.
Force of Law thrust itself savagely onto AJH's e-reader.
"No, no," he protested weakly. "Please... don't... with your deranged attitude to anal sex and your messed up gender politics."
"You want me really," snarled FoL. "You took me in half an hour. You couldn't get enough of me."
AJH trembled like a peony in a rainstorm, and tried to pretend he was reading KJ Charles...
October 7, 2020
I'm feeling really betrayed by those who said this was so good and Law wonderful. I just don't even get how this could be called sweet. I know I don't always get the appeal of BDSM but the dubcon was outright rape. When someone is terrified and says no over and over again and believes the other guy is straight and trying to hurt him and he's crying--a man crying for God's sake--and the other guy keeps going, I don't care where it ends up. It's rape. I don't care if while overpowering him and holding him down just before he's about to enter him, the rapist hands him a phone. It's terrifying.
People get aroused during rape not infrequently. It's part of the guilt factor. It would stop many people from calling for help, especially a man. It is still RAPE. If this were a man controlling a woman, I just don't see that most people would say this was okay. Add in that but then the scared guy suddenly wants more and begs for it, and you have one of the most disgusting and disturbing scenes I have ever read. I'm seriously in tears. I kept reading to see if some recognition was given and an apology, just something, but no. Instead Law continues to mistreat him and a short month later
Even though at the end of the scene Tom is confused about his emotions and decides not to call 911, he was raped, absolutely. He may have eventually succumbed and decided he wanted it, but it was abuse and Law absolutely should have stopped. The writer wrote something completely ridiculous psychologically. Tom was fighting too hard and was way too upset to suddenly turn around and decide he liked it. Very very very very very bad writing (the whole book is, really). A happy ending and a line or two where Law is kind of nice does not make up for the outright abuse.
I have more to say but I just can't right now.
People get aroused during rape not infrequently. It's part of the guilt factor. It would stop many people from calling for help, especially a man. It is still RAPE. If this were a man controlling a woman, I just don't see that most people would say this was okay. Add in that but then the scared guy suddenly wants more and begs for it, and you have one of the most disgusting and disturbing scenes I have ever read. I'm seriously in tears. I kept reading to see if some recognition was given and an apology, just something, but no. Instead Law continues to mistreat him and a short month later
Even though at the end of the scene Tom is confused about his emotions and decides not to call 911, he was raped, absolutely. He may have eventually succumbed and decided he wanted it, but it was abuse and Law absolutely should have stopped. The writer wrote something completely ridiculous psychologically. Tom was fighting too hard and was way too upset to suddenly turn around and decide he liked it. Very very very very very bad writing (the whole book is, really). A happy ending and a line or two where Law is kind of nice does not make up for the outright abuse.
I have more to say but I just can't right now.
July 5, 2012
I have to say I loved this book. It's not so much the actual sex (although it is hot!). I'm talking about the to die for alpha, Law. This character could be the lead in any romantic genre (straight, gay, bi) and be absolutely irresistible. This is not a bdsm book or menage, it is simply a super hot love story where a man knows what he wants and will do anything to get it. In this case it is Tom, his cousin's ex lover whom he has pined for since the beginning.
At first Law comes off as a complete jerk (still a sexy one though!) when he pulls into the garage where Tom works in a classic Lamborghini. Tom whom hates Law whom he believes looked down on him during his relationship with Wells (Law's Cousin). All their past interactions have been humiliating and full of conflict in Tom's opinion and he wants absolutely nothing to do with him.
The chemistry begins from the very begging when Tom's coworker's make it impossible for him to turn down a ride in Law's super hot car. From that moment it is also the reader who is taken for a super hot ride. Law convinces Tom to attend Well's wedding as a way to gain revenge on his ex lover's mother who treated Tom as someone not fit to scrape from the bottom of her shoe. In this case however things are not always as they seem....
Okay, enough about Law (sigh). Tom is a great character as well. Written from his perspective we get a view of his conflicted emotions and confusion regarding Law. Tom is convinced Law is straight and can't help wondering about Law's intentions. Law is a super rich alpha who is a control freak, the exact opposite of Tom.
Law
Tom
*This picture has been changed to reflect the slighter frame of Tom compared to Law. However this is still Chris Hemsworth, but at an earlier stage in his career. IMO he is still quite yummy though!
In my opinion the first love scene works perfectly and shows the domination of Law without making Tom into a submissive weakling. It skirts around going to far, but it quickly becomes clear that the lovin' is consensual. I can't write more about it except to say Yum.
I really like the balance regarding Law's and Tom's personalities. We find out that the Alpha has a heart (a sexy irresistible heart) and Tom while the Omega, is still sexy, strong and more than capable of handling the headstrong, dominant Law.
This is a book I will read more than once. I love Law and Tom together.
Yes it is a Cinderella (Cinderfella) story with an edge.
At first Law comes off as a complete jerk (still a sexy one though!) when he pulls into the garage where Tom works in a classic Lamborghini. Tom whom hates Law whom he believes looked down on him during his relationship with Wells (Law's Cousin). All their past interactions have been humiliating and full of conflict in Tom's opinion and he wants absolutely nothing to do with him.
The chemistry begins from the very begging when Tom's coworker's make it impossible for him to turn down a ride in Law's super hot car. From that moment it is also the reader who is taken for a super hot ride. Law convinces Tom to attend Well's wedding as a way to gain revenge on his ex lover's mother who treated Tom as someone not fit to scrape from the bottom of her shoe. In this case however things are not always as they seem....
Okay, enough about Law (sigh). Tom is a great character as well. Written from his perspective we get a view of his conflicted emotions and confusion regarding Law. Tom is convinced Law is straight and can't help wondering about Law's intentions. Law is a super rich alpha who is a control freak, the exact opposite of Tom.
Law
Tom
*This picture has been changed to reflect the slighter frame of Tom compared to Law. However this is still Chris Hemsworth, but at an earlier stage in his career. IMO he is still quite yummy though!
In my opinion the first love scene works perfectly and shows the domination of Law without making Tom into a submissive weakling. It skirts around going to far, but it quickly becomes clear that the lovin' is consensual. I can't write more about it except to say Yum.
I really like the balance regarding Law's and Tom's personalities. We find out that the Alpha has a heart (a sexy irresistible heart) and Tom while the Omega, is still sexy, strong and more than capable of handling the headstrong, dominant Law.
This is a book I will read more than once. I love Law and Tom together.
Yes it is a Cinderella (Cinderfella) story with an edge.
May 18, 2011
Someone described this as old school Harlequin romance & I can't think of a better description than that. The alpha man Law is like: Hey you get into my car, get into my bed. I'm the man, you're the bitch. The first sex scene with Tom is: It's all no, no, stop, don't & rides on the edge of non con date rape but whew, like any good Harlequin virgin, Tom's no means yes & Law is the man who knows it all. There's even a scene where Law decides to go bareback without so much as a discussion, because he knows they're both OK *rolling my eyes."
Law is also rich, as in taking Medivac's for pleasure runs, lamborghini driving, recession proof, world building wealthy. Tom is of course, dirt poor mechanic from the wrong side of the tracks. I think every romantic cliche is covered here including the scene where Tom is taken shopping & given new fancy duds & a makeover a la Pretty Woman. To complete the picture, Law is also a kick ass negotiator (with his fists) & military & can run faster than a speeding bullet( OK , no but you get the picture--He's a man's man & he knows how to use it)
It's all very over the top caricature which is maybe what the author was aiming for. Or she's tapping into that audience that secretly are attracted to jerks, because Law is just not that likable. He basically runs like a steamroller over Tom who just hangs on with his mouth hanging open. She tries to redeem Law at the end by giving his point of view, but since this is about 80 percent in after I've basically skimmed it, it was a case of too little too late.
Other issues with the story is it's not very cohesive. There are random events thrown in that appear to have no real bearing on the plot. There's a lot of telling instead of showing in this book especially on the romance side. The story is too short to smooth out the shortcomings & give us better plot & character development. ( What's it with writers in this genre? Do they have some kind of word count?)
I'll give it 1.5 stars for some humor & a few nice scenes, even though I feel like I'm grading on a curve.
Law is also rich, as in taking Medivac's for pleasure runs, lamborghini driving, recession proof, world building wealthy. Tom is of course, dirt poor mechanic from the wrong side of the tracks. I think every romantic cliche is covered here including the scene where Tom is taken shopping & given new fancy duds & a makeover a la Pretty Woman. To complete the picture, Law is also a kick ass negotiator (with his fists) & military & can run faster than a speeding bullet( OK , no but you get the picture--He's a man's man & he knows how to use it)
It's all very over the top caricature which is maybe what the author was aiming for. Or she's tapping into that audience that secretly are attracted to jerks, because Law is just not that likable. He basically runs like a steamroller over Tom who just hangs on with his mouth hanging open. She tries to redeem Law at the end by giving his point of view, but since this is about 80 percent in after I've basically skimmed it, it was a case of too little too late.
Other issues with the story is it's not very cohesive. There are random events thrown in that appear to have no real bearing on the plot. There's a lot of telling instead of showing in this book especially on the romance side. The story is too short to smooth out the shortcomings & give us better plot & character development. ( What's it with writers in this genre? Do they have some kind of word count?)
I'll give it 1.5 stars for some humor & a few nice scenes, even though I feel like I'm grading on a curve.
June 12, 2015
08/06/2013...
This book is now one of my comfort reads ... every time I need to tackle a challenge book that is going to test my resolve & make me squirm, I grab this feel-good smex fest ... love, love, love it.
Original review...
I have read this book multiple times now & I still love it. Although it has been shelved as BDSM, it really isn't. Law is definitely über alpha, no question about that, but his dominating behaviour stays on the vanilla side of the line. I'm not sure why this book appeals. The story is fairytale-ish; the sex is a little bit...not sophomoric exactly...a bit Mills & Boon dramatic maybe; but as a complete package it works. If you like reading Cinderella-ish plot lines with sexy well-hung Prince Charming's, then this enjoyable fluffy read is for you. Recommended for people who don't take their romance too seriously.
This book is now one of my comfort reads ... every time I need to tackle a challenge book that is going to test my resolve & make me squirm, I grab this feel-good smex fest ... love, love, love it.
Original review...
I have read this book multiple times now & I still love it. Although it has been shelved as BDSM, it really isn't. Law is definitely über alpha, no question about that, but his dominating behaviour stays on the vanilla side of the line. I'm not sure why this book appeals. The story is fairytale-ish; the sex is a little bit...not sophomoric exactly...a bit Mills & Boon dramatic maybe; but as a complete package it works. If you like reading Cinderella-ish plot lines with sexy well-hung Prince Charming's, then this enjoyable fluffy read is for you. Recommended for people who don't take their romance too seriously.
August 28, 2012
For me this encompasses all the worst aspects of old Harlequinns.
There is no romancing, Tom is basically told his place and what he likes, then is hypnotised by the wonder of the Lamborghini Diablo into believing he's in love.
Law. He drives a Lamborghini Diablo you know? Um his mother loves him and he's rich.
For me that's not enough.
The phone just in reach during the date-rape made me cringe, it was mocking and horrid. How he handled the blackmail issue also took away any chance of believing him capable of love -
Tom's workmates in the brief scene we see them are wierd comedy props, not like any garage I know, for that matter Tom himself isn't believable as a mechanic.
There is no romancing, Tom is basically told his place and what he likes, then is hypnotised by the wonder of the Lamborghini Diablo into believing he's in love.
Law. He drives a Lamborghini Diablo you know? Um his mother loves him and he's rich.
For me that's not enough.
The phone just in reach during the date-rape made me cringe, it was mocking and horrid. How he handled the blackmail issue also took away any chance of believing him capable of love -
Tom's workmates in the brief scene we see them are wierd comedy props, not like any garage I know, for that matter Tom himself isn't believable as a mechanic.
August 12, 2020
The basic rich boy/poor boy fairy tale scenario. I loved the humour. Law is a lovable arrogant dictator and Tom is a lovable gullible sweetheart. Wells is the jerk who unwittingly brings them together. I wouldn't of minded seeing him a bit more, he never suffered enough for my liking lol.
A nice sweet story, ideal as a perfect pick me up to counter a deep dark read.
Still as enjoyable. Mostly sweet with a touch of drama and the most romantic mushy ending. I loved it so am upping my rating to 5 stars.
ETA Yep still love this. I wish we could catch up on them a few years down the line. I think they should have kids :)
A nice sweet story, ideal as a perfect pick me up to counter a deep dark read.
Still as enjoyable. Mostly sweet with a touch of drama and the most romantic mushy ending. I loved it so am upping my rating to 5 stars.
ETA Yep still love this. I wish we could catch up on them a few years down the line. I think they should have kids :)
August 10, 2024
This was another re-read for me and I added it to my favorites shelf. It was just so HOT and re-reading it and already knowing the ending made it even more beautiful and passionate.
Yummy!
Updated 2024: The author refers to bottoms as “women” and tops as “men” and it through me off enough to take away a star and a shelf. It’s still hot-as-fuck though.
Yummy!
Updated 2024: The author refers to bottoms as “women” and tops as “men” and it through me off enough to take away a star and a shelf. It’s still hot-as-fuck though.
February 9, 2010
Wow. Law is definitely an alpha male. Practically the Alpha of all alphas. What a lucky boy Tom is.
Admittedly at times the writing came perilously close to purple prose but managed to get the point across without crossing that line.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I really wasn't ready for it to end
Admittedly at times the writing came perilously close to purple prose but managed to get the point across without crossing that line.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I really wasn't ready for it to end
November 7, 2020
I have a somewhat two-minded opinion about Force of Law.
On one hand, it was a light and entertaining enough read--entertaining in the sense that one can't really take it seriously and needs to read and take it as a joke. Needs to take it as a hyperbole...It's a fun parody in a way-even though trying (way) too hard.
This book certainly isn't anything heavy. It's nothing that requires much attention/concentration. Nothing breath-taking and outstanding that will be remembered forever, but entertaining, nonetheless.
On the other hand, it was way too much, at times--even though the book is intentionally cliched and over the top:
Law is this alpha male of all alpha males. He's super talented, smart, intelligent, successful, powerful, dominant, rich, handsome, fearless, brave, honorable, strong-minded. He's a billionaire. He's got the world laid out to his feet. Everything he does or touches turns into gold. He might be a god..., he certainly feels and behaves like one. He's awfully arrogant or just quite sure of himself--however you'd like to interpret it. When planning a picnic he's using his helicopter or jet to get there, flying the thing himself, naturally. When confronted with a gun (while being unarmed himself) he fearlessly and single-handedly and, of course, successfully--was there ever any doubt?--wrestles the gun-holding "opponent" for the gun, knocking him out easily while he's at it. And that's that. He joined the force and went to Afghanistan for no other reason than to kill Osama Bin Laden himself. While fighting bravely at the front for freedom and against terrorism, he's running his corporation via satellite (his private one, of course) and quite successfully so. You get the drift, he's top-notch at everything.
In contrast to Law, Tom--although being referred to as tough (why?)--can only be compared to a damsel in distress, helplessly waiting for the shining knight in armor to save the day or, which would be more appropriate in Law's case, to save the world. I don't really like this kind of dynamic in a relationship, neither straight nor gay.
And the rape-but-not-rape scene wasn't anything I liked very much, either. Tom was scared to death, waiting for the inevitable to happen while trying to convince himself that it won't be all that bad, that it will be OK... and then he just suddenly and quite conveniently realizes that he's actually turned on as hell the second he feels Law's cock up his virgin ass. That was too close for comfort. (A D/s [BDSM] dynamic is fine, even hot, but here it isn't. The thing between Law and Tom is not a D/s thing, not in any way.) I couldn't find anything remotely romantic in that!
Yes, this book wants to be a parody, wants to be over the top. And it is working in some parts, but in others (or rather most) it isn't.
Sometimes, less is more.
On one hand, it was a light and entertaining enough read--entertaining in the sense that one can't really take it seriously and needs to read and take it as a joke. Needs to take it as a hyperbole...It's a fun parody in a way-even though trying (way) too hard.
This book certainly isn't anything heavy. It's nothing that requires much attention/concentration. Nothing breath-taking and outstanding that will be remembered forever, but entertaining, nonetheless.
On the other hand, it was way too much, at times--even though the book is intentionally cliched and over the top:
Law is this alpha male of all alpha males. He's super talented, smart, intelligent, successful, powerful, dominant, rich, handsome, fearless, brave, honorable, strong-minded. He's a billionaire. He's got the world laid out to his feet. Everything he does or touches turns into gold. He might be a god..., he certainly feels and behaves like one. He's awfully arrogant or just quite sure of himself--however you'd like to interpret it. When planning a picnic he's using his helicopter or jet to get there, flying the thing himself, naturally. When confronted with a gun (while being unarmed himself) he fearlessly and single-handedly and, of course, successfully--was there ever any doubt?--wrestles the gun-holding "opponent" for the gun, knocking him out easily while he's at it. And that's that. He joined the force and went to Afghanistan for no other reason than to kill Osama Bin Laden himself. While fighting bravely at the front for freedom and against terrorism, he's running his corporation via satellite (his private one, of course) and quite successfully so. You get the drift, he's top-notch at everything.
In contrast to Law, Tom--although being referred to as tough (why?)--can only be compared to a damsel in distress, helplessly waiting for the shining knight in armor to save the day or, which would be more appropriate in Law's case, to save the world. I don't really like this kind of dynamic in a relationship, neither straight nor gay.
And the rape-but-not-rape scene wasn't anything I liked very much, either. Tom was scared to death, waiting for the inevitable to happen while trying to convince himself that it won't be all that bad, that it will be OK... and then he just suddenly and quite conveniently realizes that he's actually turned on as hell the second he feels Law's cock up his virgin ass. That was too close for comfort. (A D/s [BDSM] dynamic is fine, even hot, but here it isn't. The thing between Law and Tom is not a D/s thing, not in any way.) I couldn't find anything remotely romantic in that!
Yes, this book wants to be a parody, wants to be over the top. And it is working in some parts, but in others (or rather most) it isn't.
Sometimes, less is more.
January 12, 2012
"It's not like what you're thinking!" This saying usually we hear when a spouse find his lover in other man's hand. This book is full of that. Not of the Big Misunderstandings, but of many actions that are interpreted differently at first, until we get the actual account from the characters themselves.
A year ago, Tom was dumped by his rich boyfriend, Wells. Today, Wells' super rich cousin, Law, asked him if he'd like to attend Wells' wedding- as his date. Looking for a closure (and revenge) Tom agreed. Little did he know, things were not like what he's thinking.
This is cinderfella slash pretty woman par excellence. Somehow, I like it very much. Tom is likable, and Law is someone you want to hate but you couldn't because you know that despite his odious behaviors, he's a nice guy.
The plot is nice and sweet. The writing flows nicely, and the humor is funny. The sex...wow... smoking hot!
If you're up for a billionaire trying to win over an auto mechanic, give this story as try. If you have done it before, reread (again)! Just remember, things are not always as they look.
A year ago, Tom was dumped by his rich boyfriend, Wells. Today, Wells' super rich cousin, Law, asked him if he'd like to attend Wells' wedding- as his date. Looking for a closure (and revenge) Tom agreed. Little did he know, things were not like what he's thinking.
This is cinderfella slash pretty woman par excellence. Somehow, I like it very much. Tom is likable, and Law is someone you want to hate but you couldn't because you know that despite his odious behaviors, he's a nice guy.
The plot is nice and sweet. The writing flows nicely, and the humor is funny. The sex...wow... smoking hot!
If you're up for a billionaire trying to win over an auto mechanic, give this story as try. If you have done it before, reread (again)! Just remember, things are not always as they look.
July 1, 2011
Oh, wow!! I really loved this book! I think this will definately be a book I can reread in the future. It was soooo sweet, sexy, and HOT!!!!! Law was so...so...Ok, I don't know how to describe him! Tom is an extremely lucky man!
From one of my favorite scenes:
From one of my favorite scenes:
June 21, 2018
I'm so confused... I think that was really good? There were some odd inconsistencies and other problems that I couldn't dismiss and bugged me enough that I had to take a star off. On the other hand, there were flashes of greatness that took my breath away.
I grabbed this one because it was narrated by Joel Leslie, unfortunately it wasn't his best effort either.
I would be interested in exploring this author further but it looks like all her stuff is out of print thanks to the defunct publisher Torquere :(
heh heh, it also happens that I picked this one for a challenge bc it was #31 on the list of overrated MM romances, a place it deserves to be.
I grabbed this one because it was narrated by Joel Leslie, unfortunately it wasn't his best effort either.
I would be interested in exploring this author further but it looks like all her stuff is out of print thanks to the defunct publisher Torquere :(
heh heh, it also happens that I picked this one for a challenge bc it was #31 on the list of overrated MM romances, a place it deserves to be.
September 12, 2014
Not my cup of tea. This feels like an old Harlequin story that I don't really care about. A brute cold Alpha with a confused young heroine, strike the heroine to another guy. There is one time when I like this kind of cold attitude from the Alpha, but this one is not able to gain some sympathy for me, or make me believe that he has emotion. The ending is kind of nice, but the whole story just leaves me cold.
January 15, 2012
Very sweet story: it's an erotic fairy tale, with a dragon to be slain , a mighty stallion , love at first sight, a false prince, a true prince, and a happy ever after. It has exactly as much character development and relationship to reality as any other fairy tale i.e. none. For some reason I thought it would be darker, I guess because of the Force part of Force of Law, but it's nowhere near dark or hard, its a simple, sweet, traditional, old fashioned fairy tale with hot m/m sex (including dub-con: well, rape actually, but not like rape rape, just the kind of rape that 85% of women experience when you don't want sex, you say "no", you get ignored, but you're not actually prepared to call the cops and make a huge fuss about it. While that is a strange and sad reflection on gender roles in our society, please don't let it put you off this novella!)
July 9, 2015
Okay, so ummmmmmmm
I'm confused. So maybe someone in the wonderful world of Goodreads can help me out.
If I were to don a strap-on and peg my husband, would that make me a man? If I were to take it up the ass, would that make me more a woman? Less? I'm not quite sure how these power dynamics work. If my husband is generally a follower and I have the dominant personality in our relationship, does that make him a bitch? Does it make me butch?
Because according to Jez Morrow, the "catcher" in a m/m relationship isn't actually a man.
So I've been reading het romances all along!
I'm confused. So maybe someone in the wonderful world of Goodreads can help me out.
If I were to don a strap-on and peg my husband, would that make me a man? If I were to take it up the ass, would that make me more a woman? Less? I'm not quite sure how these power dynamics work. If my husband is generally a follower and I have the dominant personality in our relationship, does that make him a bitch? Does it make me butch?
Because according to Jez Morrow, the "catcher" in a m/m relationship isn't actually a man.
So I've been reading het romances all along!
February 17, 2010
I really loved Law and Tom together. Law was really alpha but Tom held his own. I wish the book had been longer. *sigh*
November 27, 2012
Just gotta love this story.
This is a story about Tom a man who thinks he is gay, has a gay relationship that doesn't work out and trundles along in life getting over his hurt. Then Law, a relative of the person who hurt him, comes back into his life with a bang.
Meet Law, The Real Alpha Man. All other men be they gay, straight or anything else bow before Law. In fact everyone bows before Law: men, women, police, gangster hoodlums, business people, hospital staff even the US Army!!! Never before has there been the likes of this Alpha Male and no other is like him.
Law - the Force of Law - then takes Tom in hand and shows him what it is to be a gay man in love.
Law drives a fast, expensive car. Law flys a helicopter. Law fought in Afghanistan at the same time as running a multi million dollar business. Law bought his secretary a Volvo. In fact if I was to meet Law I would shout
'You da man!!'
'You are da man!!'.
And then swoon.
I think this is the only possible response. I have to say I liked this book. You just have to love Alpha Men and this story simple oozed with it!
This is a story about Tom a man who thinks he is gay, has a gay relationship that doesn't work out and trundles along in life getting over his hurt. Then Law, a relative of the person who hurt him, comes back into his life with a bang.
Meet Law, The Real Alpha Man. All other men be they gay, straight or anything else bow before Law. In fact everyone bows before Law: men, women, police, gangster hoodlums, business people, hospital staff even the US Army!!! Never before has there been the likes of this Alpha Male and no other is like him.
Law - the Force of Law - then takes Tom in hand and shows him what it is to be a gay man in love.
Law drives a fast, expensive car. Law flys a helicopter. Law fought in Afghanistan at the same time as running a multi million dollar business. Law bought his secretary a Volvo. In fact if I was to meet Law I would shout
'You da man!!'
'You are da man!!'.
And then swoon.
I think this is the only possible response. I have to say I liked this book. You just have to love Alpha Men and this story simple oozed with it!
November 14, 2013
Originally read 2/13/2010
I had originally read this book in 2010. I adored it then and I still adore it now. I was surprised how much of the story I had forgotten, though. The whole beginning is what stuck in my mind but the ending and how gentle and caring Law gets really surprised me. I liked that Law had so many layers. He was this tough, possessive, alpha male. he's very intimidating but people are drawn to him for his money. By the end, he still manhandles Tom but he's more gentle now and loving. Tom's reaction to everything Law does just cracked me up. He's cranky, sulky and snarky at times but he can't help but do what Law says.
*sigh* This is just a fun, hot story that is definitely a comfort read to me. It makes me all melty inside when I read it and Law and Tom together? Damn, they're so freaking hot even *I* couldn't get enough of them!
But, but, but.... now I want a sequel! I want to see their wedding! And their babies!
I had originally read this book in 2010. I adored it then and I still adore it now. I was surprised how much of the story I had forgotten, though. The whole beginning is what stuck in my mind but the ending and how gentle and caring Law gets really surprised me. I liked that Law had so many layers. He was this tough, possessive, alpha male. he's very intimidating but people are drawn to him for his money. By the end, he still manhandles Tom but he's more gentle now and loving. Tom's reaction to everything Law does just cracked me up. He's cranky, sulky and snarky at times but he can't help but do what Law says.
*sigh* This is just a fun, hot story that is definitely a comfort read to me. It makes me all melty inside when I read it and Law and Tom together? Damn, they're so freaking hot even *I* couldn't get enough of them!
But, but, but.... now I want a sequel! I want to see their wedding! And their babies!
September 8, 2016
This book was a wild ride and I really liked it as a story. There was subterfuge, blackmail, and illegal business dealings.
Law Castille is not only very rich but a very dominant man. He totally overwhelms Tom Russell, a simple mechanic, with his forceful behavior. And that is the only thing I really had trouble with. The first time they have sex, even though consensual (sort of), still feels very close to rape. Law didn't leave Tom any sort of choice, showed no emotions or mercy, not just in that scene but in the weeks that followed. The lack of emotions may go with the image of the alpha's alpha, I know that, but it went too far for me to be able to fully enjoy the story.
By the time we do get a glimpse at Law's emotions (since he does have them!) it was too late for me to be able to really like him.
Law Castille is not only very rich but a very dominant man. He totally overwhelms Tom Russell, a simple mechanic, with his forceful behavior. And that is the only thing I really had trouble with. The first time they have sex, even though consensual (sort of), still feels very close to rape. Law didn't leave Tom any sort of choice, showed no emotions or mercy, not just in that scene but in the weeks that followed. The lack of emotions may go with the image of the alpha's alpha, I know that, but it went too far for me to be able to fully enjoy the story.
By the time we do get a glimpse at Law's emotions (since he does have them!) it was too late for me to be able to really like him.
February 21, 2011
A pretty solid effort. The D/s is purely D/s and there is no bondage or other BDSM aspects. I loved Law - He's HOT! Larger than life (in every way LOL) he really comes at you off the pages and twists your heart around, especially when he lets go of the hard outer shell and you get to see the yummy goodness inside.
The sex is hot - nice and squishy just the way I like it. The secondary characters really provided some nice background through which you get to know the characters better. A very nice effort - I'd read more by the author!
The sex is hot - nice and squishy just the way I like it. The secondary characters really provided some nice background through which you get to know the characters better. A very nice effort - I'd read more by the author!
March 21, 2013
Fun, quick read, basically a fairy tale masquerading as a contemporary. Cinderella is now an auto mechanic, Prince Charming is a billionaire CEO, and the coach is a Lamborghini Diablo. In other words, pure fluff.
February 26, 2012
This was the perfect book if you are looking for a sweet read with a happy ending and no real conflicts.
March 25, 2011
Immediately after I read the review for this book on DearAuthor.com, I made my purchase. While I didn't love it as the reviewer and other readers did, I did enjoy this book.
The writing style of the author did not really work for me. In some cases, it took me a moment to understand what the characters were saying because I was unfamiliar with the way they were using the words such as "bareback" or "being the man". However, I liked the bits of humor interspersed within the story, and have highlighted them in my Kindle for PC to go back and laugh out loud on another day. For example:
"It didn't turn out like a David versus Goliath match. It was more like ant versus shoe," and "The appetizer looked like fork food, but there were forks all over the place. There were two forks on the left, another fork on top, and still another one over on the right.
I'm surrounded."
The pacing seemed rather hurried. I thought that this story would have been more satisfying as a longer book with the author exploring how Law and Tom felt about the situation more.
I didn't quite love the characters. Law was almost bully-like, and like a typical alpha hero in traditional male/female romances. While I don't mind those type of heroes in my traditional romances, I haven't quite decided whether I like them in male/male romances. Yet, while he is described as tough, big, hard-nosed, and alpha, he seemed to be the more romantic of the two - or at least, more inclined to believe in his relationship with Tom. I really liked the scene where Law confesses to Tom of when he first loved him. It explained why he reacted the way he did in Tom's main recollection of him.
Law is the rich guy, the Harlequin billionaire. I liked the fact that the author didn't use the social and financial difference between Law and Tom to create more angst. Likely, that would have extended beyond the word count. Instead, the angst is limited to Tom's initial ambivalence about his situation with Law.
Tom is a poor, tough, young mechanic. He's still in the closet with his coworkers because he is afraid of being beaten up if he comes out. He also notes that he is a private person. This means that he will occasionally entertain women. I thought that was interesting, and would have liked more extended scenes of him interacting with them. It may have been a nice contrast to how he interacts with the men, especially since his mother said that he's always been nice.
I found it a little difficult to read from Tom's POV. He was young (early twenties), and went from supposedly being the dominant partner to the submissive one. His realization (with Law's forceful aid) was hard to read, I think, because by then, I was able to identify with him to an extent, and it was a humbling scene. Yet, the scene was written with such heat that I could not help but be riveted. It reminded me of a yaoi anime I once unknowingly had stumbled across and watched with titillated fascination. It was uncomfortable, but hard to look away.
There was a side blackmail story, which I mention only to say how I liked the way the author avoided the great MISUNDERSTANDING that many traditional romance novels are known for.
Finally, I would have liked to see more scenes of Tom interacting with Law's family. They seem like great folks.
I do need to mention that the Kindle format (at least) for this book was not properly formatted. It stinks. Each chapter does not start on a "new page". Instead, the chapters run right into one another, sometimes without even a line break. What shoddy formatting work for something put out for public consumption.
The writing style of the author did not really work for me. In some cases, it took me a moment to understand what the characters were saying because I was unfamiliar with the way they were using the words such as "bareback" or "being the man". However, I liked the bits of humor interspersed within the story, and have highlighted them in my Kindle for PC to go back and laugh out loud on another day. For example:
"It didn't turn out like a David versus Goliath match. It was more like ant versus shoe," and "The appetizer looked like fork food, but there were forks all over the place. There were two forks on the left, another fork on top, and still another one over on the right.
I'm surrounded."
The pacing seemed rather hurried. I thought that this story would have been more satisfying as a longer book with the author exploring how Law and Tom felt about the situation more.
I didn't quite love the characters. Law was almost bully-like, and like a typical alpha hero in traditional male/female romances. While I don't mind those type of heroes in my traditional romances, I haven't quite decided whether I like them in male/male romances. Yet, while he is described as tough, big, hard-nosed, and alpha, he seemed to be the more romantic of the two - or at least, more inclined to believe in his relationship with Tom. I really liked the scene where Law confesses to Tom of when he first loved him. It explained why he reacted the way he did in Tom's main recollection of him.
Law is the rich guy, the Harlequin billionaire. I liked the fact that the author didn't use the social and financial difference between Law and Tom to create more angst. Likely, that would have extended beyond the word count. Instead, the angst is limited to Tom's initial ambivalence about his situation with Law.
Tom is a poor, tough, young mechanic. He's still in the closet with his coworkers because he is afraid of being beaten up if he comes out. He also notes that he is a private person. This means that he will occasionally entertain women. I thought that was interesting, and would have liked more extended scenes of him interacting with them. It may have been a nice contrast to how he interacts with the men, especially since his mother said that he's always been nice.
I found it a little difficult to read from Tom's POV. He was young (early twenties), and went from supposedly being the dominant partner to the submissive one. His realization (with Law's forceful aid) was hard to read, I think, because by then, I was able to identify with him to an extent, and it was a humbling scene. Yet, the scene was written with such heat that I could not help but be riveted. It reminded me of a yaoi anime I once unknowingly had stumbled across and watched with titillated fascination. It was uncomfortable, but hard to look away.
There was a side blackmail story, which I mention only to say how I liked the way the author avoided the great MISUNDERSTANDING that many traditional romance novels are known for.
Finally, I would have liked to see more scenes of Tom interacting with Law's family. They seem like great folks.
I do need to mention that the Kindle format (at least) for this book was not properly formatted. It stinks. Each chapter does not start on a "new page". Instead, the chapters run right into one another, sometimes without even a line break. What shoddy formatting work for something put out for public consumption.
March 26, 2017
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; MAY 7, 2015
Narrator: Joel Leslie
Rating: 1 star; DNF'd the audio
I enjoyed this in e-format 5 years ago and was thrilled when Gaa-Chan gave me a heads-up that it was available in audio. I snapped it up but it turned out worse than disappointing for me. I thought the narrator (never heard of him) was awful. But Gaa-chan liked him so just goes to show how subjective narrator likes and dislikes are.
I found Leslie's voice oddly forced, as if he was deliberately over-acting the characters. When he was speaking the narrative parts, he used his normal voice, which was a medium register and not the deep, rich ones (which I prefer if the MC or MCs are the hunky, alpha types) and that was fine. He has a good voice but for some strange reason, he puts on a false tone for his characters. He should have just used his natural voice because if he changed it to try and give the characters differentiation, I wish he hadn't because he sucked at it.
Again, just my opinion. Gaa-chan liked him and that's great. Thanks to her, I found out why this title didn't turn up in my search criteria for gay titles by Release Date. Audible had categorized it under 'Erotica' and not in their Gay & Lesbian titles. I never look at the Erotica category but now I'm forced to because I found other MM audio there - like the Patricia Logan ones as well as SJD Petersen's BAMF
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Law's the kind of romance hero that makes me wriggle deeper in my armchair with a deep breath, knowing I'm in for a great ride (even if in this case, it's Tom who rides the bike.
Law was wonderful to the end, his over-the-top alpha was exactly the escape I needed after a rather horrid week. Tom's nice but not sugary sweet and yes, I liked the wedding scene, too. It's one of those scenes where you know what's going to happen yet that's precisely why one enjoys them.
Wells - Tom's lover who becomes the ex pretty early in the story - well, he's a rat. A weak one, an unpleasant one and I could only say Tom couldn't have had much going on in his life to hook up with someone like Wells. What else can I say? Next to Law, every man would be as appealing as week-old porridge.
FoL is a delightful contemporary M/M romance that's guaranteed to lift your mood and ideal as a breaker if you've just read something dark and intense. I'll be looking out for Jez Morrow's next book, for sure.
Narrator: Joel Leslie
Rating: 1 star; DNF'd the audio
I enjoyed this in e-format 5 years ago and was thrilled when Gaa-Chan gave me a heads-up that it was available in audio. I snapped it up but it turned out worse than disappointing for me. I thought the narrator (never heard of him) was awful. But Gaa-chan liked him so just goes to show how subjective narrator likes and dislikes are.
I found Leslie's voice oddly forced, as if he was deliberately over-acting the characters. When he was speaking the narrative parts, he used his normal voice, which was a medium register and not the deep, rich ones (which I prefer if the MC or MCs are the hunky, alpha types) and that was fine. He has a good voice but for some strange reason, he puts on a false tone for his characters. He should have just used his natural voice because if he changed it to try and give the characters differentiation, I wish he hadn't because he sucked at it.
Again, just my opinion. Gaa-chan liked him and that's great. Thanks to her, I found out why this title didn't turn up in my search criteria for gay titles by Release Date. Audible had categorized it under 'Erotica' and not in their Gay & Lesbian titles. I never look at the Erotica category but now I'm forced to because I found other MM audio there - like the Patricia Logan ones as well as SJD Petersen's BAMF
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Law's the kind of romance hero that makes me wriggle deeper in my armchair with a deep breath, knowing I'm in for a great ride (even if in this case, it's Tom who rides the bike.
Law was wonderful to the end, his over-the-top alpha was exactly the escape I needed after a rather horrid week. Tom's nice but not sugary sweet and yes, I liked the wedding scene, too. It's one of those scenes where you know what's going to happen yet that's precisely why one enjoys them.
Wells - Tom's lover who becomes the ex pretty early in the story - well, he's a rat. A weak one, an unpleasant one and I could only say Tom couldn't have had much going on in his life to hook up with someone like Wells. What else can I say? Next to Law, every man would be as appealing as week-old porridge.
FoL is a delightful contemporary M/M romance that's guaranteed to lift your mood and ideal as a breaker if you've just read something dark and intense. I'll be looking out for Jez Morrow's next book, for sure.
November 20, 2010
What a lot of fun this book was! Funny, witty and ridiculously implausible, it’s very evident from start to finish that the author treats the plot and characters with much affection. And it shows.
This is the campy gay version of knight on shining black steed, come to sweep his fair maiden off her feet; only this time it’s brutishly handsome, preposterously wealthy and powerful alpha male capturing the heart and ass of a poor, gamine automechanic who tries with all his might to resist the physical and romantic advances of his dark knight, and failing utterly.
I read this book right after finishing an incredibly long, incredibly intense and emotionally torrid gay romance novel, the kind that will pound your heart into the ground with no mercy. This book, Force of Law, was the perfect antidote.
Come into this book expecting a lighthearted romp, boldly and cleverly-written stock romance novel characters, a deftly written plot, laced with a good dose of charm and frivolity, and you will come away very happily entertained.
This is the campy gay version of knight on shining black steed, come to sweep his fair maiden off her feet; only this time it’s brutishly handsome, preposterously wealthy and powerful alpha male capturing the heart and ass of a poor, gamine automechanic who tries with all his might to resist the physical and romantic advances of his dark knight, and failing utterly.
I read this book right after finishing an incredibly long, incredibly intense and emotionally torrid gay romance novel, the kind that will pound your heart into the ground with no mercy. This book, Force of Law, was the perfect antidote.
Come into this book expecting a lighthearted romp, boldly and cleverly-written stock romance novel characters, a deftly written plot, laced with a good dose of charm and frivolity, and you will come away very happily entertained.
February 5, 2012
Well damn, isn't Law just about every man (and woman's) dream come true. Definition of alpha male is Law Castille. This story reminds me a little of Pretty Women....minus the prostition and women. Law is a billionaire and Tom is dirt poor. The sex between these two is smokin hot...i don't usually rank and review my books based on sex but holy hell this one was hot.
July 2, 2011
I love this book
November 9, 2011
3.75 stars
Holy Hell, what a character in Law!
Holy Hell, what a character in Law!
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